My life skills in Daming Liver

Even the rain does not know the end of spring, only when it is sunny can I feel the depth of summer.

By the time Su Ze raised his head from studying hard, it was already the end of May.

The date of the township examination has been set, and it is the ninth day of August as in previous years.

As a rule, the imperial court nominated officials (examiners) for the Fujian Inspector Wang Daokunjia Township Examination, appointed Fujian Xuezheng as deputy examiners, and eight people from Xuedaoya as fellow examiners. These were all officials who needed to participate in the examination.

For the officials, this is a hard job. The time is tight and the task of marking papers is heavy. You must know that there were 3,500 students who took the exam in the last Fujian provincial examination, and eight of the same examiners were responsible for completing the test within five days. After reading so many papers, and then selecting qualified papers from them and submitting them to the chief examiner for approval, I have to read 116 papers a day.

This is not a choice and judgment question, but a serious eight-legged essay.

Such a heavy marking work, but also a huge responsibility.

The Ariake generation imposed extremely heavy punishments on fraud cases in the examination room, and once there was an error in the examination papers, the criminal responsibility might be postponed.

Wang Daokun accepted the imperial court's will. The chief examiners of the Ming Dynasty's rural examinations were very noble, and they were also known as "Zhi Gong Ju". This was the right of the prime minister during the Tang and Song Dynasties.

Because the chief examiner of the palace examination in the Ming Dynasty was the emperor, he did not dare to call it "Zhi Gongju" in the general examination, and the chief examiner of the rural examination called it to show respect.

Next, Wang Daokun took the imperial decree, and the Fujian inspector and deputy inspector served as the chief and deputy examiners, responsible for supervising the rural examination.

Next came the paper printing officer. Officials from the eight prefectures of Fujian gathered in Fuzhou City. Finally, Zhang Sijing, the official from Yanping Prefecture, was selected by lottery to be the paper printing officer.

Zhang Sijing's eyes flickered, the paper printing officer would get the test papers the day before the township examination, and he knew the content of the papers ahead of other fellow examiners, which was a very crucial position.

Two examiners were set up, responsible for summarizing and accepting examinees' examination papers. They were also selected by lottery from Fujian county magistrates. This time, the two county magistrates under Quanzhou Prefecture and Tingzhou Prefecture won the lottery.

The two looked dejected. The test examiner had a heavy responsibility. If the examinee's test paper was damaged or lost, he would bear a great deal of responsibility, and he would be imprisoned in the examination hall together with the examinee to suffer. Therefore, most officials were unwilling to take the position.

There are also five sealing officials who are responsible for checking whether there are marks on the papers, sealing the checked papers with their names, and handing them over to the transcription officer for transcription.

Official Mifeng has a heavy responsibility, and it is also their responsibility to check whether the calligraphy on the examination paper is qualified. If the handwriting is not good enough, Official Mifeng will be dismissed directly, and the five magistrates under the Fuzhou government will be in charge.

There are also ten transcription officers. This is another hard job. They have to transcribe 3,500 examination papers. This time, there is a lottery again, and the officials from various prefectures or county magistrates will be in charge. The people who are drawn are also sad. .

Finally, there are two readers, who are the proofreading officials. They are responsible for sending the ink scrolls copied by the transcription officer and the ink scrolls written by the examinees to the candidates. The candidates check whether the transcription officer has transcribed correctly. If the transcription officer made a mistake, the examinee has the right to send it back to the reader for re-transcription.

The examiners were Jinshi from Fujian Province. In the end, Baizhi County also won the lottery. I could only stand in the ranks of the examiners with a wry smile. This was also a hard job.

There are also six inspectors and supervisors. These are the military officers in charge of the sentries in the examination room, patrolling the examination room and guarding the examination court.

Finally, there are eight supply officials, who are the Tongzhi of the eight prefectures. They are responsible for the supply of candles in the examination room, and the meals for the examiners and guard sentries. The candidates are not responsible for the meals, and they still bring them by themselves as before.

The importance of the township examination is reflected in the rules and regulations of the imperial court. The officials in each link are selected from the officials of the whole government, trying to prevent the examination officials from colluding with the candidates to cheat.

But in fact, cheating in the rural examinations has never stopped throughout the Ming Dynasty, and there are various scandals in every provincial examination.

For example, news of a certain Juren's lack of understanding in arts and science is often heard, so that the chief examiner of the township examination is trembling, for fear that some big news will ruin his future.

Next, Wang Daokun will finish repairing the Examination Tribute Academy in Fujian during the two months of June and July, and then carry out various preparations for the provincial examination.

[Study hard in school, imperial examination skill experience +20, Lv9, 915/5000]

Su Ze took a look at his imperial examination skills. With 13 points of intelligence bonus and hard study, he could gain 20 points of imperial examination skill experience every hour, and 80 points of skill experience could be obtained by studying for four hours a day.

In this way, before the start of the township examination in August, the imperial examination skills can be upgraded to Lv10.

Su Ze temporarily gave up other skills in the liver, turned on the lamp to study at night, and practiced in the imperial examination every day.

Lin Mojun asked Lin Liangjun to give her a sachet of peace of mind again, and told Su Ze to prepare for the exam with peace of mind, and just leave the matter of Changningwei to her.

During this period, Fang Ruolan also sent letters. One was written by Fang Ruolan to Su Ze, telling him to take care of his health and prepare for the exam. Huang Tiju from Huimin Pharmacy also sent a decoction for health preservation.

The other letter was a letter from Fang Wanghai to his family. Fang Ruolan also copied a part of it to Su Ze according to Fang Wanghai's instructions.

Fang Wanghai has already arrived in Jiangnan, and said in the letter that everything is fine, and that he is rectifying the banknote customs according to Su Ze's banknote customs law. Fang Wanghai told Su Ze to prepare for the exam with peace of mind and concentrate on this year's rural examination.

In addition, there is also a copy of the latest "Selected Journals of Time and Literature", which was sent back by Fang Ruolan's uncle in Nanjing Guozijian.

Fang Ruolan also sent a sleeping sachet. Her embroidery was still so abstract and she hadn't made any progress. The letter said that Mrs. Li had given up and had recruited two rough envoys with outstanding embroidery skills from Quanzhou Prefecture, and she was going to follow her. Marry Fang Ruolan together.

Miss Fang proudly wrote about her victory in the letter. Su Ze suspected that she did not embroider well on purpose.

Su Ze's classmates, Chen Chaoyuan, Li Qiyuan, Wang Xun, Han Li, and Yu Zongzhang were all studying hard at the county school to prepare for the exam. However, in Hai Rui's view, none of them were good enough to pass the provincial exam. On the contrary, Su Ze was the last student Most promising.

Hai Rui was also amazed at the speed of Su Ze's learning progress. You must know that people like Chen Chaoyuan started reading the Four Books at the age of ten, and began to treat the Five Classics at the age of fifteen or sixteen.

And Su Ze just started studying the Five Classics last year, and the level of the Four Books was only average when he first entered school.

In the past year or so, Su Ze has been admitted as a scholar in three consecutive exams, and now he has become a candidate who can challenge candidates in the county school.

We must know that among the provincial examinations, general examinations, and palace examinations, the provincial examination has the highest elimination rate. Of the 3,500 students who participated in the examination, only 90 were able to pass the exam.

With such a cruel elimination rate, many candidates like Fan Jin went from youth to old age.

Hai Rui is very satisfied with Su Ze, the only thing he is dissatisfied with is that the eunuch Tao who oversees minting coins in Fujian always comes to see Su Ze every now and then, and now there are rumors that Su Ze is clinging to powerful traitors in the whole Nanping City.

Before Hai Rui heard that Su Ze had a relationship with Eunuch Hu, the mine supervisor, Hai Rui regarded it as a rumor, but now that he saw Su Ze getting close to Eunuch Tao, Hai Rui was also a little dissatisfied. He recruited Su Ze to let him study hard and rest assured. Take the imperial examination on the right path.

Su Ze had no way to explain, so he could only accept Hai Rui's teaching.

On the shabby pavilion outside Nanping City, Zhang Sijing, the Yanping pusher who rushed back from Fuzhou Fucheng, and Huang Shixing and other academy students had a banquet.

As a paper printing officer, he only had to arrive at the Gongyuan ten days before the township examination. He returned to Yanping Mansion to explain the work in hand, and then continued to go out of the city to have fun.

The history of the government's punishment room is the favorite of this kind of boss who pushes away the shopkeeper. The former Fang Zhifu is so good at suppressing these subordinates that he can't hold his head up.

But now that the new magistrate appointed by the imperial court has not yet arrived, the subordinate officials in the punishment room have regained their prestige.

Lin Xianyang, who is in charge of the history of military affairs in the government office, often complains to Su Ze about this, and Su Ze just shakes his head slightly. In the era of backward transportation technology, when ruling such a huge empire, local officials at all levels often have such shortcomings. bit situation.

The reason is also very simple. Fang Zhifu was promoted suddenly. After Fang Zhifu was promoted, the Department of Literature and Selection of the Ministry of Officials will re-elect a new Yanping prefect.

Leaving aside the work efficiency of the Ministry of Officials, the appointment of the new magistrate has to be issued, and the new magistrate has to rush to Yanping Prefecture. With the traffic conditions of this era, walking on the road for three months is considered fast.

When the magistrate was vacant, Li Tongpan, who was acting temporarily, had a weak personality, so naturally he couldn't suppress these subordinate officials.

And officials like Zhang Tui, who don't care about things, are the favorite officials of the subordinate officials. They only want to have no merits and faults in their tenure, and they can just dawdle all day long.

Su Ze can only sigh, in a society ruled by man, having a reliable parent official is really a blessing from the local people.

In the shabby pavilion, Huang Shixing poured wine for Zhang Sijing, and congratulated him with everyone: "Congratulations, Mr. Zhang, for being appointed as the official sealer."

Participating in the township examination is a major event. The chief examiner will be promoted after presiding over the examination, and the rest of the participating officials will also be promoted, that is, they will get extra points in the job assessment of the year.

Compared with the hard-pressed examiners, seal officials, and interrogation officials, the examiner can be said to be the most relaxed examiner.

After everyone finished drinking, Zhang Sijing began to talk about the current situation:

"Your Majesty's idea is good if the court wants to clear up the money law, but it's a pity that entrusting these traitors to do it will harm the people again!"

Huang Shixing and everyone agreed.

Zhang Sijing said again: "A few days ago, I corresponded with some old friends in the matter, and they all mentioned this matter. Eunuchs are wronging the country!"

Everyone agreed again, at this time Huang Shixing said again:

"Master Zhang, I heard that Changning Wei Su Ze had a close relationship with the eunuch Tao sent by the imperial court. The students heard that someone saw Eunuch Tao and Su Ze chatting in front of the county school."

When it comes to Su Ze's close relationship with the eunuch, everyone is naturally excited.

Spraying eunuchs is the political correctness of civil servants in the Ming Dynasty. Naturally, they dare not spray in front of eunuchs, but if they do not spray behind their backs, they will be looked down upon.

Su Ze and Eunuch Tao communicated openly, which was naturally looked down upon by scholars, and Zhang Sijing even directly expressed his dislike for Su Ze.

"This son dares to comment on the articles of the sages in pursuit of his fame. That county school teacher Hai Rui is also ridiculous, and he dares to comment on the sages!"

"The two masters and apprentices are still making friends with powerful traitors, it really embarrasses us scholars!"

Zhang Sijing scolded Fang Wanghai, whom he hated the most, and said: "The instigator of all this is the former Yanping magistrate Fang Wanghai! He cheated in the boy's test, made Su Zezhong a talent, and recruited him as his son-in-law! What a big traitor to the country! "

Speaking of this, the scholars present were even more sour.

The prefect's daughter has a good reputation in Nanping City. Of course, Miss Fang has never shown her face in public, but the women in the city have seen her.

For such a beautiful woman to be engaged to a poor boy like Su Ze, those unmarried scholars naturally gritted their teeth.

Huang Shixing had also made an oath that he would not be married if he did not pass the exam. He had also heard of Fang Ruolan's name, and he hated Su Ze even more in his heart.

Zhang Sijing continued: "I also wrote a letter to Inspector Wang, asking him to re-evaluate Su Ze's fame, but it's a pity that Inspector Wang didn't come to Yanping Mansion because of his busy schedule."

Naturally, Zhang Sijing would not criticize Wang Daokun. Wang Daokun is an imperial official, more noble than their scientific officials.

Zhang Sijing continued: "Just keep an eye on this Su Ze. If he is really a gangster and helps rape and corrupt Fujian's money law, I will definitely invite friends from science and Taoism to write a letter of impeachment!"

Everyone praised Mr. Zhang for his integrity and uprightness. Zhang Sijing became even more inflated under the praise of these scholars, and gradually became unrestrained.

"What is the crown prince? The crown prince is the foundation of a country! The foundation of the country is still undetermined. If something happens to His Majesty, wouldn't it mean that all the country's affairs will fall into the hands of women and traitors?"

Speaking of this topic, everyone's faces turned pale.

Is this something a group of students can listen to?

This is a mind-blowing word.

If it gets out, wouldn't it be that Zhang Sijing cursed His Majesty?

Of course everyone knows that Zhang Sijing was relegated to Yanping Mansion because of "discussing the country's foundation". It is Qingliu's position to ask for a crown prince. Qingliu has long formed a political group around King Yu. It is also to vote for King Yu.

Naturally, talents like Huang Shixing couldn't meddle in such high-level struggles.

A gust of cool wind blew over, and Zhang Sijing sobered up a bit. He also knew that he had made a slip of the tongue, so he changed the subject and said:

"After you go back, tell your family that you will charge more copper coins."

Everyone immediately understood what Zhang Sijing meant. They were also children of a big family, and they had heard from their family members about the casting of money in the sixth year of Jiajing.

The imperial court wanted to dredge the money law, nothing more than forcing big money.

When the government mints a lot of money, it will definitely force the people to use the big money. At this time, using the collected copper coins to make big money, followed by the government to forcibly exchange money for silver, is a business that is sure to lose but not make money.

For big families like these, it would not be difficult for a Qian Fan to mint copper coins privately at home. Some families did such a thing thirty years ago.

After being reminded by Zhang Sijing, everyone immediately understood.

Huang Shixing whispered in Zhang Sijing's ear: "Teacher, the money fan and the furnace are all ready at home. The five hundred taels of silver you gave me last time will be used as a student."

Zhang Sijing nodded slightly, the five hundred taels of silver was embezzled from the Tuiguan Yamen, and he was only waiting to make a fortune from this great fortune of minting money.

Qingliu also wants money.

If you don't have the money to move around, how can you get back from the extreme miscellaneous job of Tuiguan in Yanping Mansion.

Zhang Sijing stroked his beard, anyway, it was eunuch Tao who disturbed Qian Fa, so what did it have to do with Qingliu himself?